Soldiers accidentally set fire to officers’ mess with stray flare during kayak duel

Ten fire trucks were required to extinguish a blaze at a military accommodation block after two newly-graduated cavalry officers accidentally set it ablaze while firing flares at each other from hijacked kayaks in an outdoor pool.

The fire occurred at Allenby Barracks in Bovington, following a boozy graduation ceremony for trainee tank commanders.

Both men involved were new second lieutenants who had just finished the ‘Father and Son’ dinner which marks qualification.